The Truth About Our Schools

Opinions about comprehensive education are often made into sound-bites by the media and politicians. Whilst the benefits of a comprehensive education for all pupils are obvious, untruths have unwittingly evolved into hard facts. As part of the Local Schools Network, Benn and Downs are challenging myths about state education and have meticulously built an argument for its still enormously vital role. Anyone who thinks that comprehensive education has failed, that local authority control holds back schools, that competition & markets are the route to educational success and private schools hold the magic DNA will have their beliefs altered by this articulate and rigorously-evidenced book.

Melissa Benn is a journalist and author, a campaigner for high-quality comprehensive education and a founder of the Local Schools Network. Janet Downs is a retired secondary school teacher. She is now an education researcher and blogs regularly on the Local Schools Network.

Myth Number 1: Comprehensive education has failed Myth Number 2: Local authorities control and hold back schools Myth Number 3: Choice, competition and markets are the route to educational success Myth Number 4: Choice will improve education in England: the free school model. Myth Number 5: Academies raise standards Myth Number 6: Teachers don't need qualifications Myth Number 7: Private schools have the magic DNA Myth Number 8: Progressive education lowers standards